Convention 2015

Our convention this year will be at a private retreat hotel outside a major city because we want to build a strong DSA community and give us the opportunity to focus on our Socialist Strategy and strengthening our socialist organizing skills.

Registration this year is ALL INCLUSIVE, unlike in past years where food and lodging was not included and delegates had to arrange and pay for that on their own. We encourage anyone with sticker shock to compare their overall spending at past conventions, and they will find that this is comparable or less.

Bernie Sanders said it best: "Nobody in the White House, no matter how good he or she may be, can address the issues facing working families and the middle class without an active, organized, politically conscious grassroots movement."

And it's not just about the White House. The institutions in our government as well as our economy are run by an unaccountable few, without transparency or democratic input. It is time to demand that these institutions put people over profit.

DSA Convention Travel Information

The convention will be held in Antiochian Village in Bolivar, PA. The address for the convention is:

The Antiochian Village

201 St Ignatius Trl.

Bolivar, PA 15923

Mandatory Travel Share

Participation in DSA conventions includes participating in one of two travel share options. This mandatory travel share program is intended to equalize or offset transportation costs. Delegates can choose which option to use:

By Air: One pool is basically for people who fly and the equal cost will be calculated at convention.

By Land: One pool is basically for people who commute locally, drive or take the bus or train, or use frequent flier miles. They will cover their own expenses and above that pay a fixed travel fee of $75 to the convention.

Driving to the Convention

You will not need a car for convention events. Parking at the venue is free. Please click this link for a for a convention carpool for traveling from the regional airport, bus stations, and train stations. The National Office is NOT organizing local carpools. This carpool form is for regional travel from major transportation hubs.

Join Steve Max, a founder of the legendary community organizing school, the Midwest Academy, to practice talking about socialism in plain language. Create your own short rap. Use your personal experience and story to explain democratic socialism. Prepare for those conversations about socialism that happen when you table or canvass. This workshop is for those who have already had an introduction to democratic socialism, whether from DSA's webinar or from other sources. Questions? Contact Theresa Alt <talt@igc.org> 607-280-7649.

DSA was concerned to find out that the company that provides our website and online organizing infrastructure, NationBuilder, had as a client the Trump campaign and other right-wing candidates. Progressives built this kind of infrastructure and tools for digital organizing and we have now lost that organizing edge. We are moving to identify other options for a CMS/CRM. As an under-resourced, member funded organization, this move will take time for us to carry out, but it is an important statement for us to make.